TWO female officers have taken over at the helm at SAPS Kamesh as from 1 February 2021 and are responsible for ensuring that the community in this area is and feels safe. Colonel Marieka du Preez was appointed as the new Station Commander and Lieutenant Colonel Leonie Peters was appointed as the head of the detective service at the station.
First female Station Commander at Kamesh
Colonel Marieka du Preez hails from the Baviaanskloof and matriculated in Willowmore before she joined the police at the tender age of 17. She started her policing career at SAPS Baviaanskloof in 1992, where she became the first female police member that was enrolled at the station, previously known as Studtis.
She completed her basic training at Pretoria Police College, where she became the first female drum majorette leading the student band. After finishing her basic training, she took up a post at Logistics, at the Pretoria College.
Her journey in SAPS continued into the Eastern Cape and she worked at Supply Chain Management at the Provincial Office and then later at the Area Commissioner’s office. She was then transferred to Slagboom Training Academy in Addo for two years, after which she worked at the Training Office at the Provincial Commissioner’s office in Qonce (King William’s Town).
During 2003, the officer was transferred to SAPS Bethelsdorp where she served the community for six years. She started working at the Management Information Centre office, but knew fighting crime was in her veins and she ended up at Visible Policing, leading the Crime Prevention Unit.
She also headed two different Robbery Task Teams during that period at SAPS Bethelsdorp, namely the Gelvandale Cluster Robbery Task Team and then later the Mount Road Cluster Rapid Response Task Team focussing on serious robbery cases, under the command of retired Major General Dawie Rabie.
Col du Preez joined the Mount Road Cluster, Visible Policing team in 2009, where she was responsible for the coordination of operations, monitoring and managing of seven police stations within the Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) precinct. The officer was also part of the team that established the Visible Gang Intervention Team (VGIT) which have grown over the past years and is now known as the Anti-Gang Unit.
Col du Preez is honoured to be appointed as the first female Station Commander of SAPS Kamesh. Col du Preez said that her goals for SAPS Kamesh are: “To strengthen and enhance the relationship between the community and the SAPS and it is of vital importance that there will be mutual trust and respect between the various role players”.
One of first females at Special Guard Unit
Lieutenant Colonel Leonie Peters joined the South African Police Service on 16 January 1989 and received her basic training at Bishop Lavis Training College in Cape Town.
Her first placement, after successful training, was at the Special Guard Unit at the Parliament in Cape Town. She was one of only four females placed at the SGU and they were the first ever females attached to this Unit.
Part of her duties entailed guarding high profile politicians, identifying any threatening matters such as possible bombs.
Lt Col Peters was transferred to Eastern Cape in 1992 where she served at SAPS Duncan Village and SAPS Buffalo Flats respectively. During 1995 she was transferred to Cambridge Detectives as a Sergeant and she worked there for more than 25 years. Here she expanded her knowledge and expertise and was soon recognised for her expert investigation. Her outstanding investigative skills earned her many prestige awards at her station and at Provincial level.
The most recent highlight of her career is, when she received an awarded as the Eastern Cape Detective Employee of the year (Level 8 – 12) during the 2018/2019 financial year. She was also nominated as a finalist at the National Excellence awards and she was awarded the second runner up position.
She is currently the President (National Chairperson) of the Christian Police Association.
Her goal for Kamesh is to build a strong team of detectives who, with integrity will render a professional and effective service of high quality to the people of Kamesh. Service excellence will continuously be a priority. Her aim is to rebuild trust in and restore relationships between the community and SAPS.
New commander of Theft and Endangered Species Unit
Clyde Wilmot was promoted to the rank of Captain and was appointed as the commander of the Theft and Endangered Species Unit (Stes Unit) in Kariega (Uitenhage) on 1 February 2021.
Captain Wilmot is a seasoned investigator and boasts more than 35 years of loyal service in the organization of which he devoted 34 years to this section of SAPS.
His vision for the Stes Unit is: “The farming community ise the food basket of our country and we strive to render a professional and exceptional service to all our clients at all times.
“Not many people are aware of the negative impact that stock theft has upon the economy and see it only as a minor crime. As the commander of this unit it is my passion and privilege to make the difference. Together we can be the difference.”
ISSUED; SAPS UITENHAGE COMMUNICATOINS OFFICE
